Kazakhstan: Energy Ministry Discusses Energy Sector's Green Transition

At a Majilis hearing, Deputy Vera Kim raised concerns about Kazakhstan’s plans to transition to green energy, Orda.kz reports.

Kim questioned representatives from the Ministry of Energy about the feasibility of aiming for 80% of the country’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources (RES) by 2060, given Kazakhstan’s harsh climate and the need for stable heating during long winters.

I would like to understand how prepared the ministry is for such ambitious goals. In some regions, winter lasts more than six months. Will the centralized heating system also be converted to renewables?she asked. 

Vice Minister of Energy Sungat Yessimkhanov responded, saying it is unlikely that Kazakhstan will fully replace traditional energy sources with renewables by 2060.

When we talk about achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, it doesn’t mean a complete abandonment of coal. We are focusing on the development of carbon (CO₂) capture technologies. Currently, we cannot generate enough heat from renewable energy sources, making it impossible to heat large cities with renewables. For smaller towns, we are exploring solutions like heat pumps and geothermal sources.Yessimkhanov explained. 

He added that by 2050, Kazakhstan expects to generate about half of its electricity from alternative sources, including nuclear energy.

In response to a follow-up question from the Deputy, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov explained that there are already technologies available to reduce emissions while continuing to use coal significantly.

Japan and South Korea use coal co-firing with ammonia, which lowers emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides and helps achieve carbon neutrality. Using up to 20% ammonia allows emissions to be minimized to match the best global standards,Akkenzhenov said. 

According to the Minister, modern coal boilers used in China also show that Kazakhstan can continue to rely on coal for heat and electricity for many years, while dramatically reducing environmental harm.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov